Tag Archives: lyric street records

Joshua Ragsdale, a promising songwriter whose battle with leukemia inspired hundreds of people to be tested as potential bone marrow donors, died Thursday morning in an area hospital.

A staff writer at Sony/ATV, Mr. Ragsdale was 32. In 2010, his “Ain’t Much Left Of Lovin’ You” became Randy Montana’s debut single, and Country Music Hall of FamerBill Anderson released “Papaw’s Sunday Boots,” a song Mr. Ragsdale co-wrote with Anderson.

While his career momentum accelerated, Mr. Ragsdale endured debilitating chemotherapy and a string of worst-case health scenarios. A marrow transplant scheduled for spring was canceled when the anonymous donor backed out. The man later agreed to the non-invasive, blood-draw procedure, but by then Mr. Ragsdale had contracted brain cancer that required further chemotherapy. The donor then backed out a final time.

Meanwhile, Mr. Ragsdale wrote songs, retained faith and kept a community of friends, fans and supporters apprised of his progress with often humorous postings on social networking sites.

“Waiting on the doctor... just hid all of his pens,” he wrote on April 28 on Twitter, four days after posting, “Dear Lord... I’ve got the noggin cancer.” On May 13 he wrote “The Price Is Right rocks away the pain,” and on May 30 he took time to thank the late Mel Blanc for giving voice to Bugs Bunny: “You still make me laugh on Sat & Sun mornings,” he wrote.Continue reading →

Singer Gary LeVox said that while the news will obviously usher in changes, Rascal Flatts is still working to deliver on the new album expected in the fall.

"We're still moving full steam ahead and we're just pumped about the new stuff that we're cutting," he said. "It's just a sad deal. That was our family for 12 years. It just kind of blindsided us. It was just kind of out of the blue. It's still a little shocking."

Full detail from the AP:

LAS VEGAS (AP) - Rascal Flatts is moving ahead with a new album despite the dissolution of its record label last week.

The trio said during rehearsals for the Academy of Country Music Awards, presented Sunday, they were surprised by Disney's move to close Nashville, Tenn.-based Lyric Street Records - the only label they've known. But a single is still due in June and an album will be out in September.Continue reading →

The closing will, of course, mean changes for its artists; Rascal Flatts, The Tennessean's Getahn Ward writes HERE, is expected to "transition to another Disney Music Group label."

“Although we are saddened for the people at Lyric Street whom we have worked so closely with over the last 10 years, we are still very much excited about the new album we are currently making and bringing that new music to our fans,” Rascal Flatts said in a statement released Thursday.

By Wendy Lee and Knight Stivender | THE TENNESSEAN

Google Inc. will be delving into the music industry next week, letting consumers preview and buy songs as part of its normal online search experience.

The as-yet-unveiled service could dramatically change how consumers access music and how those on Music Row, from record labels to songwriters and performers, market and ultimately sell their music.

Google's music pages will package images of musicians and bands, album artwork, links to news, lyrics, videos and song previews in one place. It will also provide a way to buy songs through digital music services Lala.com and iLike, people familiar with the matter told the Associated Press. The people spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't allowed to speak publicly about the deal until next Wednesday's announcement.

The news comes as music CD sales have tumbled dramatically over the past decade. Sales of digital downloads have not made up for the revenue loss.

But Nashville area record label executives, along with those in the creative side of the industry, said Google's initiative could help them reach more listeners — and sell more music.Continue reading →